It was in the beginning of 2020 that a sign that said “se vende” led to the acquisition of 6000 m2 barren wasteland, bought with the intention of shaping a spiritual paradise for people to retreat and live as complete human beings. The last four years we have been presenting the Garden of Nâm to the world and when you go through the different monthly journals it is easy to get a pretty accurate idea about the way this place has miraculous evolved. Its beautiful physical shape, its serene atmosphere, its harmonising activities and also the attempt to find words to express to what the Garden of Nâm allows visitors to be.
The Garden of Nâm, a nice place to retreat?
It seems apparent that we are now running a meditation, yoga and retreat centre with a beautiful multilayered ecological garden and simple but elegant Andalusian style guest facilities. It is known that we are situated next to a hermitage where a sage lives together with a few monks. Furthermore, one can say that the Andalusian semi-desert environment together with a kind staff completes a unique mixture that sets the stage for an unforgettable retreat. Indeed, our website and calendar show a rich agenda of events that vary from peaceful stays to instructive intensives and genuine silence retreats. All this is confirmed in the nice reviews on google that give a good impression of what guests do and experience in the Garden of Nâm – meditating 3 times a day, enjoying healthy and very tasty meals, receive healing and participate in events such as Yoga, QiGong, shamanic experiences and so on and so forth. Together with a nice way of living the Garden is a place of beauty and peace. It seems as if these ingredients themselves provide the life transforming experience of LivingNâm. But in fact that is not what we are doing and it is not what the Garden of Nâm is about.
So, what is living in the Garden of Nâm about?
The Garden of Nâm is inspired by the vision of Yoginâm. A man that became completely absorbed by the spiritual endeavour and who has dedicated his life to establish a way of fulfilled living for western people. Indeed, life is certainly more than meets the eye. It goes way beyond the human capability of grasping and knowing. Having freed himself from the social, cultural and religious boundaries that cloak perception he witnessed many people searching for a more fulfilling way of living. He also saw that they often ended up astray and being confused. An example of this is that many people who engage in what they think are spiritual exercises, end up to be much more egocentric; fascinated by their selves, their image and their abilities. So he started speaking and writing. His message and being a living example started to attract more and more people which led to the foundation of Asharum Amonines. Here Yoginâm could come several times a year and stay for longer periods of time. Now people could come to meet him, experience his way of living and even explore and apply it for themselves. As many have found, the vision that he shares and the tools that he designed appear to work very well and already brought insight, healing and well-being to many.
Back to the Roots
Then, as a sign in Asha, in 2020 a piece of land announced itself and as it happens some people were looking for an opportunity to live the vision of optimal living in a communal setting and put it into full practise. It was clear that the land was in dire need of care and attention. The word spread and very soon the money to buy it was collected and a few pioneers came to commit themselves to the project. Yoginâm envisioned the Garden to be a place of Grace where the message of Nâm, that had emerged, can be fully lived. Yoginâm took it as his given task to support and guide the slowly growing amount of residents who were ready to dedicate their lives to create a place of beauty.
Living in the Garden of Nâm
One of the unique elements of living in the Garden of Nâm is the cultivation of silence. Some people may find the mere idea of silence and being silent for a longer period of time, uncomfortable or even scary. For others it is quite a relief to retreat from the hectic, high paced life that they are used to or from the sometimes confusing and complicated relations they share their lives with. When searching for entertaining satisfaction – as distraction or even sedation – no longer seems to be able to compensate; when endless explanations and justifications no longer make it easier to go on and the same patterns repeat over and over again a longing to pause, withdraw and be alone for a while turns the eye looking for places to unwind, nurtured by the beauty of nature and a harmonising tranquil atmosphere. A very healthy and natural response.
Ask yourself this question
The Garden of Nâm provides such a place and, as a guest recently observed, it goes way beyond compensation. Living in London and having visited some other retreat options she witnessed that many young and middle-aged people use spiritual exercises like Yoga, meditation and QiGong as a compensation for a serial of very unhealthy habits. “At one time they go out, drink, eat and party. Another time they work intensively and wear themselves completely out and then they try to find balance by going on intense retreats or seeking extreme kicks in nature. This however is not balance.” Yoginâm calls this seeking to feel good “satisfaction spirituality”. It still serves the habitual programs of “I/World” driven by the need to feel good. It flows from the complete identification with emotions. Many people find it natural to be driven by the emotions they feel. However, these feelings are the consequence of how they have been programmed and thereby they reflect the past. Nothing new can come from that. This doesn’t allow for real change to take place. In order to improve the experience that we call ´the quality of life´ it is necessary, as Yoginâm stresses, to become a different cause. When you really long to find balance and live a complete life it is essential to find out what you are.
He writes:
“Ask yourself the question
Who is it that sees through my eyes
That hears through my ears
And who is that I, that is conscious
That thinks and deliberates
That knows and has opinions
And about what are these thoughts
And these opinions
Just ask yourself that question
And you will discover that
There is this I that sees the other I
That sees something, hears something
Thinks and deliberates about something
It is this I that can discover the
Habitual Programmes of Perception
According to which the other I
Is thinking and deliberating
Following closely its programmes
Because these programmes
This other I sees as a truth”
Retreating to the Garden of Nâm is not just about relax & recharge. It is not about a short escape and then continuing with your business as usual. Of course relaxation and recharging happen but as a consequence of realigning with what it means to be a human being. The Garden of Nâm is a place that allows for matters to surface that need healing, that invites to explore different and more beneficial attitudes. Where there is space and time to contemplate.
Encounter Yoginâm and Explore the tools of Living Nâm
The Garden of Nâm is also the place where you can encounter Yoginâm, the living source of our inspiration. We look forward to welcoming you during one of the weekly HarpMood Gatherings. We regularly organise Nâm Silence Retreats and it is possible to arrange a private retreat. If you wish you can request a private HarpMood or a healing during your stay.
